ALCESTER Library has been given a new telephone number, as all libraries managed by Warwickshire County Council are due to be brought under one umbrella number 0300 55 8171.

The number is one of a new range being introduced by Ofcom, beginning with 03, as an alternative to the chargeable 08 numbers, and will be charged at a national call rate.

The change means that all calls will be centralised to a customer service centre, and users won’t have to talk to library staff to find out information about library opening times or other standard details about the library service.

Customers who wish to speak to a specific member of staff can ask to be transferred through to them.

Councillor Colin Hayfield, portfolio holder for customers, access and physical assets at Warwickshire County Council, said: “This move benefits customers as there is only one number to remember and enables skilled library staff to get on with their work without interruption. We can appreciate that customers might be concerned that this will mean that they cannot speak to library staff whom they are used to speaking with. I can assure everybody that this will not be the case and that staff will be as accessible to the public as before.”